The freelance business, just like any other business, demands a lot of time and commitment to be a success. If you plan to make it a full-time career, there are some things you have to do. First, you have to promote it to generate traffic to your site. After all, the more the clients, the better the pay.

Marketing may prove to be a daunting task that demands a lot of time, and it may be very costly at times. This leaves you wondering how you can affordably promote your business. Well, not to worry, this article will outline some of the most inexpensive ways to market your freelance business.

1. Ask for referrals

If you are a freelancer, you can market your business through asking for referrals from your clients- both current and former. If a client is satisfied with your work, he is guaranteed to make referrals if you ask of him. In fact, recent research indicates that 84% of B2B buyers start buying through referrals.

Majority of the buyers, close to 90%, are influenced by their peers to make purchases. So, if your business gets a referral, it will gain more popularity, and your client base will gradually grow. You can motivate your clients to make referrals by giving them incentives such as offering a discount.

2. Launch a website or blog

Did you know that 46% of U.S. small businesses lack a website? One of the simplest and most affordable ways to promote your freelance business is launching a website or a blog. All you have to do is get a domain name and a hosting provider, and within a couple of minutes, your website or blog will be operational.

To set up your website, you have first to register your domain and hosting. You can also select a content management system such as Wordpress.com, which is commonly used. The website you set up should have a strong portfolio of your previous work that can bring more traffic to your site. Ensure to post every occasionally on your blog. Research indicates that 53% of marketers blog often to market their products or services.

3. Build client relationships

If you are a freelancer, growing your client base is one of the most vital things. Therefore, it is imperative to create relationships with your customers. This should not only include your loyal or repeat customers, ensure to contact your previous customers as well.

Ensure to reach them occasionally to inform them of a new product or service that you are offering. It doesn't matter if they aren't interested at the moment, they can refer you to other customers. More so, clients will most likely come back to a business that creates a relationship with them.

4. Send cold emails

As a freelancer, you can take some of your free time to send cold emails. To send these, all you need are the emails of potential clients. You can send about 20 to 50 emails a day, something that doesn't take much of your time, plus it's free of charge.

Your emails should be about your products or services, and out of the 50 contacts, you should expect about five replies. This strategy requires patience, but with time, it can grow your client base, as it is an excellent sales pitch.

5. Build a network

One of the most effective ways of marketing your business is building a network. So, how exactly do you network? You can do it in person by attending events hosted by individuals in the same industry as yours. This gives you an opportunity to meet one or more people that can work with you to grow your business. A business card would help at such events.

You can also build an online network, especially on social media. You can contribute to forums that seek answers to questions within your field of expertise. This effective strategy may see people flock to your platform in pursuit of your services and products.

6. Improve your social media activities and presence

Today, social media stands as one of the best marketing tools. Some of the most common social media sites include LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter among others. Through social media, you can generate traffic to your freelance business by branding yourself appropriately. You can also post more often and interact with potential clients.

You should also update your accounts frequently to make sure that your connections know when you achieve something or bring in new products. It is also recommended for you to be active. In addition, you can settle with social media management tools that help you to communicate with potential customers and direct you on the ways to achieve your business goals.

7. Write for yourself

If you are a freelancer, developing content by yourself is one of the best marketing tools. All you have to do is come up with an effective marketing strategy to ensure that you do things right.

Creating a blog post that talks about more than just your products or services shouldn't take much time or resources. When you write it, ensure that it is very informative. You should also ensure to write regularly so that your readers can turn into followers, and eventually, loyal customers. If you write engaging and fresh content, your client base is bound to grow.

8. Word-of-mouth advertising

Any freelancer that has grown his or her business can agree that word-of-mouth advertising is a very effective marketing strategy. This method is not only viable but also free. Ensure to inform close friends and family members that you run a freelance business. Actually, 64% of marketing executives consider word-of-mouth to be the most effective form of marketing.

It would also benefit you a great deal to tell influential individuals about what your freelance business entails. Once people around you are knowledgeable about what you do, they can help your network to grow by passing word around. After all, research indicates that 88% of people tend to purchase items recommended by friends and family.

9. Social media ads

Unlike other online ads that dig deep into your account, social media ads are an effective and affordable method to market your freelance business. However, you have to keep in mind that these platforms are not entirely free and that will have to put in a few dollars. Getting started doesn't take much. Once you update your profile, the interface will generate an audience that fits your demographics.

10. Guest blogging

Guest blogging is one of the ideal strategies for marketing your freelance business as well. This is whereby you comment and often post on an already established blog, whose clients match up to your demographics. This gives you an opportunity to share what you know, and readers may be interested in what you have to offer.

If you are getting started on your freelance business, marketing is key to its success. Using the aforementioned tips, you can see your business grow into a reputable brand that's constantly on people's mouths. Most freelance businesses do not have the resources to commit into an elaborate marketing strategy; however, you can make good use of available methods that this article has shared.